Agenda item

This report asks the Environment and Neighbourhood Services Committee to note its terms of reference as given by Full Council and to make any suggestions to the Constitution Working Party for clarifying these terms of reference and to make, by exception, delegations to Officers under matters reserved.

            The Chair invited the Interim Monitoring Officer to present his report. He then provided an introduction to the Terms of Reference, drawing Members’ attention to the recommendations and the two appendices which detailed the general terms of reference and the specific terms of this Committee.

            Members then took part in a full debate where the following points were raised:

·         Could Biodiversity be added to the Terms of Reference, and should air pollution also be considered as a specific function of the Committee. The Chair confirmed that Biodiversity was within the remit of the Committee. The Director of Services confirmed that Officers would consider whether the different elements of pollution could be brought together in a report and brought to Committee, and that officers could make some suggestions at the next Agenda Preparation Meeting.

·         It was asked whether discussions could be had on how more wildlife could be encouraged into the District.

Clarification was also sought around some of the points in the report, which was provided by the Chair and Officers at the meeting.

The Chair asked whether Members would agree to suggesting to the Constitution Working Party (CWP) that the wording on Appendix 1 - 3.1.6 – be changed from ‘In discharging its functions, Committees must have regard to the ongoing requirement to make savings and efficiencies’ to read ‘In discharging its functions, Committees must have regard to the ongoing requirement to provide value for money’

This motion was proposed by Cllr Edwards and seconded by Cllr Goodheart.

The motion was put to a vote and was CARRIED.

The Chair asked whether Members would agree to suggesting to the Constitution Working Party (CWP) that a new standing item be added to the agenda after Public Question Time for Members Question Time.

This motion was proposed by Cllr Edwards and seconded by Cllr Needs.

The motion was put to the vote and was CARRIED.

A discussion then took place regarding Reserved Matters on Appendix 2, around compensation and grants.

The Chair went on to talk about the figures for awarding contracts, and the following points were raised:

·                    Whether the value for awarding contracts, delegated to Officers, should be reduced to £50,000 or remain at £100,000.

·                    If a contract was to be awarded for a period of more than a year and the full contract was going to cost over £100,000, this should be taken to the Committee.

·                    It was suggested that the Heads of Service provide a list at the Agenda Preparation Meetings of all contracts that were due for procurement, and the Chair and Vice Chair would then give a view on whether these should be taken to the Committee. Other Members offered their support for this.

A discussion took place around Outside Bodies and how feedback would be provided to the Committee, and the role of those Members sitting on the Outside Bodies.

The subject of Biodiversity was referred back to and Members agreed the suggestion to add Biodiversity onto the Terms of Reference would be taken to the CWP.

The Chairman then returned to the substantive recommendations which were then proposed by Cllr Edwards and seconded by Cllr Staniforth.

The Committee

                        RESOLVED - That

1)   the general terms of reference for Committees in Part 3, Paragraph 3, of the Constitution and further note the specific terms of reference of this Environment and Neighbourhood Services Committee, as established by Full Council on 19 May 2021, as set out in Part 1 and Part 2 of Appendix 1 (attached), be noted;

2)   the suggestions agreed by the Committee in respect of a change to Appendix 1 - 3.1.6; a new standing item to be added to the agenda for Members Question Time; to add Biodiversity onto the Terms of Reference, be taken to Full Council, through the Constitution Working Party (CWP)for clarifications of these terms of reference

3)   the schedule of Environment and Neighbourhood Services Committee meetings as set out in the Calendar of meetings, attached as a background paper accessible by e-link; be noted and

4) the matters reserved scheme whereby matters not reserved by Committee to itself are delegated to Officers be approved as set out in Appendix 2 (attached).